Are you still in search of America like Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in the 1969 movie Easy Rider? Want to feel again like a freewheeling hippie? Want to show your age? Build yourself a Captain America trike…

Yes, people will look at you, may start a conversation about how the 60’s and 70’s values influenced culture, popular music, television, films and the arts until being assimilated by mainstream society.

You can build this unique, all-American patriotic trike using tparts found in Paughco’s latest catalog. From the custom chassis to the bars, seat, tank, rear end assembly, and fenders to the cool Dog Bone risers, lights, pegs and even the paint, Paughco Tel. 775-246-5738.

The Capt America bike is the most iconic chopper ever built, and arguably the most beautiful custom Harley of all time. 45 years later, even a replica of the bike will draw a crowd in any motorcycle venue in the world. It’s the bike that got many of us into custom building.

When a work of art is built (incidently, by two Afican American men i.e. Bennie Hardy & cliff??? I can’t remember his name) you LEAVE it alone!

I equate this trike (immitating Captain America’s bike (aka Peter Fonda) as taking mount Rushmore and erasing half the mountain and replacing George Washington’s bust with the bust of Barrack Hussain Obama!

I’m thinking that Bennie Hardy & Cliff? would be rolling in their graves about now! The saddest part of this trike is that the builder(s) of this trike are getting MORE acknowledgement than the ORIGIONAL builders of Captain America’s bike!!!

Of course this is AMERICA and this is ONLY my opinion, but if I had my choice…..I wouldn’t glorify this trike by featuring it in this magizine, in fact, I feel sick to my stomach that they discecrated an American ICON which I’m sure is among the most well known Harley-Davidson choppers to EXIST! I give a BIG TWO THUMBS DOWN ON THIS TRIKE!

Ron Paugh from Paughco just try to sell as many parts as possible using the”Captain America” theme as a magnet. Wrong approach and very Irriitating to all those who belong to the Easy Rider movie generation. Shame on you Paughco.

Something’s in our little subculture are Sacred and should not be touched. Both of those bikes are totally iconic.
Some knob did a Twinky version of one over here it is an equally disgusting fat obese version of the original.

Has it come to this? Rather laughable. But-B.S. sells
I remember back in the 60′ I saw a 74″ H-D 3-wheeler built by the factory. Can’t remember if it was a late pan or early shovel. It had a “pumpkin” style rear end with a short drive shaft with the 2 u-joints and splined shaft coming out of the back of the transmission, the drive shaft was about a foot and a half or two feet in length, other wise it looked exactly like a regular kick-start H-D trans but with a reverse sifter. No chain. Never seen one again, Has anybody else. If so I wonder why H-D hasn’t built another one? Or Baker!

I really like the guys at Paughco and their parts too. They’ve been doing custom for a long, long time ( far longer than most commenters on this blog ). While I DON’T like this particular cycle, they will probably sell a few… much respect for Paughco trying to find a way to create some interest in a tuff market.

There’s a guy who took a hell of a lot of LSD back in the day and got kicked in the face by a horse who swears the Captain America Easyrider bike was really a trike when he last saw it back in the sixties.But then Picasso painted his wife’s drivers licence photo,so he says.

To all who hate this idea (or trikes in general)…one day you will not be able to hold up your beloved 2 wheeler (because you were in a motorcycle accident or worse…). When that day happens I hope you remember all the times you bitched about older people being in your way and then don’t ride your 2 wheeler any longer. That way it will give those of us who still want to ride and have gone to a 3 wheeler a bit more space. Age happens – it inevitable.

I think it’s great. Why not? There are “theme” bikes every where. People paint their bikes all the time. Trikes? I have one and love it. 2 wheels? I own 2 and ride them too. People need to keep riding and building what they like to ride. You don’t like it? Don’t buy it. You do? Build it and ride it. That’s the beauty of this corner of the world called motorcycles. Ego needs to take the next exit…

Deacon is correct! Many of the people who ride trikes have ridden two wheelers for 30, 40 or more years and need something a little more stable at slow speeds, gravel roads/parking lots etc. They still love to ride but may not feel confident due to too many years on their old bodies, or may have artificial limbs or other medical issues. These guys have already “done it all” over the years and just can’t give up on riding. So, to all of you criticizing trike riders, show a little respect, get off your “high horses” and give the people on trikes a big wave next time you pass one ….as the years go by, you might find yourself riding one for any number of legitimate reasons.

You guys just don’t get it. Of course the trike isn’t suppose to be a new cool version of the Capt America. If you were at a bike run and saw a disabled vet missing a leg ride up on this bike, would you go over and tell him (or her) that their bike is stupid? Get a clue!

Kathy,
It is nothing to do with ego, where the negativity comes from is taking the amazingly beautiful Bike Captain America and spoiling it’s image. The Captain America and Billy bike are the two most recognisable motorcycle’s in the world. I was going to say Harleys but it is bigger than that..
When that movie came out I was still a kid but I had extended forks welded on an old push bike put ape’s on and a metallic metal flake green banana seat. It inspired thousands in this country alone to ride and modify their motorcycle. Remember I live in the middle of the South Pacific and in those days there was only the land line, letter and the telegram for communication. Plus the movies !.
The effect of that movie and those bikes around the world could never be over stated .
They were built by two unsung African Americans who got those bikes so very right. Watch the DVD ”the history of the Chopper” It is brilliant and Jesse James captures it perfectly.
We had an artist over here and they did a sculpture of Mary Magdalene in a condom.
I do not have a God fearing religious bone in my body ! but I still knew it was wrong.
To my generation those bikes are sacrosanct.
If it takes a trike to keep ones face in the wind. That is fine.
This was not about bashing the people that ride trikes.
Motorcycling is my religion !.

James just another crazy Kiwi, I remember the movie well too. I was in high school when it came out and I went with my friends who built their choppers in their garages out of parts from anything they could find. Back in the day that’s just how it was. Just being on the back back then was Heaven to me. So I am responding you with the same knowledge of feeling the Captain America and what the movie gave out. However, I don’t see that this trike, in this article, is in any way going to take the “image” away from those (4) bikes built for the Easy Rider movie, none btw exit now. It is simply a tank painted with the same patriotic flag theme that hundreds, if not, thousands of riders have painted on their own bikes as well. If you think that this trike is going to “spoil it’s image” away from the Captain America bikes, take a look at it again…. its nothing like the bikes built for the movie. As far as the ego comment from me. Yes, its here on the replies. Its obvious. Read those again. Some people just have to throw that in. Since I own and ride both, I will explain that a little here too since it is in the article also: “Deacon” hit the nail on the head with his replies for those incapable of riding nothing else but a trike for physical reasons. I will tell you, I am lucky to be able to ride both. I enjoy all my bikes in different ways. I ride my Street Glide Trike just… well, because I can. I like it. Its a different ride and I love the power. I ride my Softail… well, because I can. I like it. I ride my Nightster… well, because I can. I like it. You see, there is no difference or special reason physically that I ride or own a trike comparatively. I just like it. I can’t speak for other trike riders..just me. Next ego? Yes, a whole lotta ego coming from those ASSUMING one riding a trike is old, or physically unable to ride anything else. Even with that truth for others on trike… does the motorcycle world have to be its own enemy by putting trikers down? Looks that way from these replies. Remember, Josh Parker, you may be bald sooner that you want to be and hoping for just some of that “grey”. All this being said in due respect. Honestly, can you just look at the trike as just another bike build? Come on, how many builders out there have built a bike/trike that others don’t like or would never ride. I see them in the shows all the time. No one is asking you to love it and get on and ride it. No one is desecrating Captain America here.

Kath I fully embrace anybody that rides a trike. My sister has one and a Sportster as well.
Do not have a problem with it . Please hold that thought

This is not just a paint job

At the heart of both machines lies the Pan Head engine
Then there is the chrome frame.
The high up swept fish tail pipes
The extended wide glide front end, the risers, the handle bars, the seat and sissy bar.
And that is not a very detailed look

Please do not take this as a ‘trike” put down. It is way bigger than that.!
Personally I like all motorcycles as the more out there the better.
I just don’t want to own or ride allot of them. That dose not make them any better or worse

Fuji,
In popular culture ie the large population base that we see around us.
Not what motorcycle enthusiasts think but the Average Joe and Joette on the street.

Out side of the USA there is the Manx Norton, BSA Gold Star, Vincent Black Shadow ,Triumph Bonneville. Early Honda 750/4 the original Kwaka 900 .Yamaha Xs650 ,RD series bikes.Ducati 900SS and 750 Sport. Guzzi Le mans .Boxer BMW’s
The Britten from New Zealand is a fading memory. These are mainly only recognised by motorcycle enthusiasts.
The HD police bike hidden so carefully behind the Bill Board in movies. HD as a brand is the most recognised motorcycle by people easily. It is in so many Movies even the ridiculous like Wild Hawgs and the other terrible motorcycle spoofs. they are on TV adds and programs here and we are part of the Common wealth. They are seen allot more on TV than anything else
Think of the thousands upon Thousand of posters of Captain America and the Billy Bike that are still being sold.

Please give me a list of the top 10 motorcycles that would be recognised by the average person in the street straight off

The Captain America & Billy bike are, I’m probably very certain,
THE most famous / famous / infamous cycles in the world.
For a lot of us they hold a special place in our hearts, as they are they part and parcel
of the reason a lot of us started riding (or dreaming of riding) in the first place.
But “Knucklehead on a Panhead” is right! Look it up if your don;t believe him
but the history is right there, in front of you for all to see and REMEMBER !!!
All in all it’s still just a bike & if someone needs to “trike it up” ,
so be it, none of us are getting any younger

Yo, TT, I beg to differ
Knievel’s bike, doubt it people know Evel but could they tell you what kind of bike it was.
Fonzie’s bike, maybe & probably because of TV, but a lot of folks still think he rode H-D
Brando’s “Wild One” Triumph, older than Captain America,
to an older part of the generation, certainly, but again a lot of folks thought he rode a Harley.
Good Augment for all 3.
You & Fuji have your opinion, but I will stick with mine